Parents should have a choice whether to smack their children says the education secretary. Rejecting calls by England’s Children’s Commissioner to follow Scotland and Wales by banning smacking, Nadhim Zahawi has weighed into the debate saying there is nothing wrong with a 'light smack on the arm'.
He says mums and dads are 'entitled' to be able to discipline their youngsters and does not believe in the state 'nannying' parents about the way they bring their children up.
The father-of-one made the controversial comments when responding to England Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza's support for a smacking ban.
When asked about his personal situation on Times Radio, Mr Zahawi said: 'I've got a young child. I've got a nine-year-old Mia, and I don't think I've ever smacked her. 'But I think her mother, on occasion, has felt the need for a light smack on the arm, if she's been completely naughty and misbehaving." The minister added: “My very strong view is that actually we have got to trust parents on this and parents being able to discipline their children is something that they should be entitled to do. “The discipline of children should be left up to parents … I trust parents.
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